St Paul Engagement Photography Archives

Como Conservatory Engagement Proposal Photography | Sami + Cody

Como Park Engagement Proposal

Samantha contacted me one day looking for engagement and proposal photos for her and her love, Cody. They were planning for a Como Conservatory engagement proposal and Como Park proposal portraits. I was so excited – it’s one of my favorite venues!

Como Conservatory Engagement Portraits

The day came for their engagement proposal, and it was a bit chilly and rainy. They arrived and we started with a few portraits. Then, when the two of them arrived at the stairway landing, Cody got down on one knee and proposed! Sami was so excited, and had tears of joy! We spent a bit more time around the Conservatory to capture more photos of the two of them. Then the skies cleared up, and we walked down past the Frog Pond and gardens to capture a few more portraits of them together and their happiness. We only had about another half an hour before they were finished and rushed off to announce their engagement to family and friends!

Thank You!

Sami + Cody, thank you so much for working with me for your engagement photography! I had so much fun working with you for your engagement photos. I am also so excited to see your beautiful new engagement photo album in person!

If you are considering Como Conservatory proposal photos, contact me soon!

BONUS: Be sure to check out some other proposals I photographed at Como Park too, including an autumn Como Conservatory proposal, a spring Como proposal, a summer Como Park proposal, a winter Como Park proposal, and an autumn Conservatory proposal.

Como Conservatory Proposal Photography | Jack + Racine

By Joanna Carina

Como Park Surprise Proposal

Jack sent me a note one early spring day about wanting photos taken of his surprise engagement proposal to his girlfriend Racine in April at the Como Conservatory. It was tough keeping things secret from Racine, but we did the best we could with secret emails and phone calls.

Como Conservatory Engagement Portraits

The day came for their engagement proposal, and Racine was none-the-wiser. Jack and Racine were on their way to a special engagement dinner, and Jack mentioned he had booked a photographer for a few photos at the Como Conservatory on their way to dinner. They arrived during a short spring shower. We started with a few portraits, then they headed over to the main landing in the Conservatory, when Jack got down on one knee and proposed. Racine was in tears of joy as she nodded emphatically “YES!” to his proposal. They were so sweet together! We spent a bit more time around the Conservatory for photos, then walked down past the Frog Pond and gardens to capture a few more as the sun was making an appearance. We only had about half an hour before they rushed off for dinner and announcing their engagement to friends and family!

Thank You!

Jack + Racine, thank you so much for working with me for your engagement photography! I had so much fun working with you for your surprise proposal / engagement photos!

If you are considering Como Conservatory proposal photos, contact me soon!

BONUS: Be sure to check out some other proposals I photographed at Como Park too, including an autumn Como Conservatory proposal, a summer Como Park proposal, a winter Como Park proposal, a spring Como Park proposal, and an autumn Conservatory proposal.

Mill Ruins Park Engagement Photography | Jordan + Elliot

By Joanna Carina

Mill Ruins Park Engagement Session

Jordan + Elliot were so excited to have fall engagement photos. Thankfully, even though we were in a full-fledged pandemic, we could still work safely outdoors. They considered a few location options for their session, including beautiful Stillwater MN and Mill Ruins Park. After paying a few visits around town, they opted for Mill Ruins Park. I absolutely love that location! It is filled with old ironwork and stone down by the historic riverfront of Minneapolis. We were so lucky to have a beautifully spectacular day for their fall engagement session!

Mill Ruins Engagement Photos

The day arrived, and Mill Ruins Park was busier than I’ve ever seen! We had plenty of time to wait things out and just hang around and talk, so the time seemed to fly. The two of them had such a great time – joking, laughing and having a blast, almost as if I wasn’t even around. We wandered around the park enjoying the beautiful river scenery while photographing away. The time was up before we even knew it! And Jordan + Elliot loved their photos!

Thank You!

Jordan + Elliot, thank you so much for working with me as your engagement photographer! I had so much fun working with you for your beautiful photos. And I am so excited for your big day next year!

BONUS: Take a look at other engagement sessions I’ve photographed too, including a Stone Arch Bridge engagement session, another Stone Arch Bridge engagement session, a Rogers Lake Park engagement session, a waterfall engagement session, Father Hennepin Bluffs engagement photos, Saint Anthony Main engagement pictures, Stone Arch Bridge engagement photos, another Stone Arch Bridge engagement session, a same-sex engagement session, and another Father Hennepin Bluffs engagement session.

If you are considering Mill Ruins Park engagement photos, I would love to work with you! Contact me soon!

Take a look at Jordan + Elliot’s slideshow too!

MN Landscape Arboretum Engagement Photography | Vishana + Brian

By Joanna Carina

MN Landscape Arboretum Engagement Session

Vishana + Brian were excited to have engagement photos taken. They hadn’t done anything like this before, so were a bit nervous too. They settled on the MN Landscape Arboretum for their ideal location because it is so full of natural beauty, and it seemed like the perfect spot for their portraits. They certainly chose one of the most beautiful locations in the Twin Cities! And of course, the Arb is one of my favorite locations to work too, so naturally I was so excited too!

Arboretum Engagement Portraits

The weather during our Arb photo session was absolutely perfect – a warm, sunny, late summer day. Most plants and trees were still looking gorgeous, so we had plenty of ideal locations to visit. Even the mosquitoes and humidity were pretty light that day! Vishana + Brian especially loved the waterfalls and ponds. As most people often are, they were a bit nervous at first, but quickly got the “hang” of it, and had an awesome time! Vishana even got to model her beautiful custom “Mrs Parsaud” jacket, complete with beautiful pearl detail.

Thank You!

Vishana + Brian, thank you so much for working with me as your engagement photographer! I had so much fun working with you for your beautiful photos. And I am so excited for your big event next summer!

If you are considering Minnesota Landscape Arboretum engagement photos, contact me soon!

BONUS: Be sure to take a look at additional engagement sessions I photographed at the MN Landscape Arboretum, including a summer engagement session, a winter light sculpture engagement session, an autumn engagement session, a winter Landscape Arboretum engagement session, another autumn Arboretum engagement session, and even an Arboretum engagement session at the dog park!

Take a look at their slideshow too!

Como Park Conservatory Engagement Photography | Katie + Jared

By Joanna Carina

Como Park Engagement Session

Jared + Katie were excited to have an engagement photo session the summer before their big day in 2021. They wanted photos to treasure as well as photos for their Save-the-Date cards. We talked over options, and they loved the idea of Como Park and Conservatory for its gorgeous green space as well as being the site of one of their first dates. I will admit I am biased toward Como Park, as I got married there myself! 🙂

Como Conservatory Engagement Portraits

The day came for their engagement session, and lucky for us, the closure of the Conservatory (due to the pandemic) meant that we had most of the park to ourselves. We spent lots of time around the Conservatory, Frog Pond, pergola, gardens, benches and green space all around. We even had time to visit Como Park’s new Lily Pond feature with its bridges, flowers, pergola, pond and fountains. It is such a beautiful park. We worked together for about 1-1/2 hours and had an awesome time!

Thank You!

Katie + Jared, thank you so much for working with me as your engagement photographer! I had so much fun working with you for your beautiful engagement photos. And I am so excited for your big day next year!

If you are considering Conservatory engagement photos, contact me soon!

BONUS: Be sure to take a look at some other engagement sessions I photographed at Como Park, including a spring engagement session, a winter engagement session, another spring engagement session, another winter engagement session, another spring engagement session, a summer engagement session, an anniversary portrait session, and even a Como Town Amusement Park engagement session!

EXTRA BONUS: Be sure to check out Katie + Jared’s slideshow of their engagement photos too!

Minneapolis Engagement Studio Photography | Troy + Juliana

By Joanna Carina

MN Studio Engagement Photography

I met Troy through mutual friends many years ago. I was thrilled when he started dating Juliana – it was so clear that they became head-over-heels in love! When they announced they were getting married, I was even more thrilled! Naturally, I was excited to work with them at my St Paul studio for their engagement photography session.

St Paul Engagement Photography

The day came and they jumped right in and were so excited for their session. They had planned to get dressed up, have their photoshoot, and then go out to dinner for a date night. In fact, they said they had so much fun that the session almost felt as though it was part of the date too!

They visited my St Paul studio at a later time for their Cinematic Presentation + Design Consultation. They were thrilled with their final selections and now have a number of digital files for their own use. We even designed a gorgeous custom wall art collection so they could see their love on the wall each day of their lives.

Thank You!

Thank you, Troy + Jules, for choosing to work with me as your fine art studio engagement photographer. I had so much fun working with you two, and I am so happy that you love your photographs!

If you’d like to work together for your engagement photography, contact me soon!

Make sure to take a look at some of my other engagement photo sessions too, including another studio engagement session, MN Landscape Arboretum engagement photos, another Landscape Arboretum engagement session, Mill City Museum engagement photos, a Como Park Conservatory engagement session, Guthrie Theater engagement photos, St Olaf College engagement photos, and a Stillwater engagement session.

Como Conservatory Engagement Photography | Sarah + Eric

By Joanna Carina

Como Conservatory Engagement Session

Sarah + Eric live in Chicago. They are planning for their Mill City Museum in Minneapolis later this summer, and were in town to work on planning and details for their big day. So we made time for their engagement photography while they were here too. Since it was winter, and a bitterly cold time of year at that, they loved the idea of having Como Conservatory engagement photos.

St Paul Engagement Photography

We started first thing on a busy weekday morning. Sarah + Eric wanted a few photos with their puppy Sage, so we started off outdoors. Sage was so adorable, and was a perfect model, especially considering it was below zero that morning!

After Sage headed home with Sarah’s dad, the three of us ran indoors to the warm, humid Conservatory. The Sunken Garden featured the bright, fun colors of the spring flower show. Bonus: the light that morning was amazing! The filtered sun was perfect – not too harsh or dull. The gorgeous water, greenery, bright flowers and wonderfully humid air really made us feel like we were in the tropics. We worked in the Sunken Garden, Palm Dome and North Garden before our hour was up. When we were finished, we had a short turnaround until Sarah + Eric came to my studio to see their final photos as they were only in town for a couple of days. They loved their photos!

Thank You!

Thank you so much for choosing to work with me as your engagement photographer, Sarah + Eric. I loved working with you both (and Sage too!) I can’t wait to photograph your wedding later this summer!

If you are interested in having a Como Conservatory engagement session, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

BONUS: Be sure to take a look at some other engagement sessions I photographed at Como Park, including a spring engagement session, another spring engagement session, another winter engagement session, a summer engagement session, another spring engagement session, another summer engagement session, an anniversary portrait session, and even a Como Town Amusement Park engagement session!

Take a look at more of Sarah + Eric’s beautiful Como Park Conservatory engagement photos here too!

St Olaf College Engagement Photography | Sarah + Ezra

By Joanna Carina

St Olaf College

Sarah + Ezra met several years ago while attending St Olaf College in Northfield MN. They now live half a country apart for jobs and school, and won’t be moving back to Minnesota until next summer. While they were in town visiting family and planning their wedding, they were excited for the opportunity to photograph their engagement session. Naturally, they gravitated toward the alma mater where they met. Luckily, the rainy fall weather held off long enough for us to have their beautiful St Olaf College engagement session!

St Olaf Engagement Session

We headed down to Northfield on a day with patchy rain. Since they were only in town together very rarely, we had to work no matter what the weather. Luckily, we timed it just right and photographed the two of them in some of their favorite spots on campus between rain clouds. We visited the running fields, a quiet bench overlooking a pond, a few of the gorgeous old buildings, the quad between buildings, a few walking paths, gardens and trails, and even on a spot overlooking downtown Northfield. The umbrellas came out at one point during a slight drizzle, but the rain left as soon as it had appeared. Sarah + Ezra loved visiting their old stomping grounds. A perfect fit while they are in the midst of planning for their big day. We had so much fun!

Thank You!

Thank you so much, Sarah + Ezra, for working with me as your engagement photographer! I had so much fun working with you for your beautiful St Olaf engagement photos, and I am so excited for your wedding next year!

If you are considering St Olaf College engagement photos, contact me soon to see if we’d be a good fit together!

BONUS 1: Check out Sarah + Ezra’s gorgeous Semple Mansion wedding photos too!

BONUS 2: Take a look at a beautiful St Olaf College wedding I photographed too!

Take a look at their awesome slide show too!

Como Conservatory Engagement Photography | Brittany + Danny

By Joanna Carina

Beautiful Como Conservatory Engagement Session

Brittany + Danny are engaged and planning for their wedding next year. The only tough part about their situation? Danny lives in Minneapolis, while Brittany lives in Seattle! Brittany is planning to move here with Danny this summer. Brittany was in town recently for a few job interviews. So we made time for their engagement photography. Since it was winter, they loved the idea of having Como Conservatory prewedding photos.

St Paul Engagement Session

We started first thing on a busy weekend morning. The light was pretty cooperative that day. I love diffused clouds and filtered sun. The beautiful water features, flowers and trees under the glass conservatory are so stunning when we have such beautiful light! The gorgeous water, greenery, and wonderfully humid air really makes you feel like you are in the tropics. It seems to be the furthest thing from Minnesota. That makes it even more awesome, especially with our cold winters!

By the time we were finished, the two of them were pros at acting naturally in front of the camera. I know it’s a challenge when starting any photo session. Once they got in their groove, I could have spent all day with them! When we were finished, we had a short turnaround until they came to see their final photos. (Brittany had to leave town to go back home in just a few days.) They decided to order an engagement photo album. I can’t wait to see it in person when it’s delivered from Graphistudio in Italy!

Thank You!

Thank you so much for choosing to work with me as your engagement photographer, Brittany + Danny. I loved getting to work with you both (and Gloria too!) I wish you the best on your wedding – whichever location you decide upon. And congrats on your new job here in Minneapolis, Brittany!

If you are interested in having a Como Conservatory engagement session, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

BONUS: Be sure to take a look at some other engagement sessions I photographed at Como Park, including a winter engagement session, a spring engagement session, another winter engagement session, a summer engagement session, another spring engagement session, another summer engagement session, an anniversary portrait session, and even a Como Town Amusement Park engagement session!

Take a look at more of Brittany + Danny’s beautiful Como Park Conservatory engagement photos here too!

Engagement Photo Ideas | Minneapolis Photographer Carina Photographics

By Joanna Carina

Awesome Engagement Photo Ideas

One common question I receive from my couples is how to plan their engagement sessions. They are often unsure where to go or what to do. Today I’m going to talk more about engagement photo ideas. I’ve got options that will help spark ideas to plan your own engagement session.

Personalize Your Engagement Session

My biggest piece of advice is to select locations or activities that are meaningful to you. This will almost always result in better images. When considering options, think about how you like to spend time together. Also think about activities and locations you both enjoy. If you select something important to you both, then you are well on your way to creating a memorable experience. Engagement sessions last around 1-2 hours, depending on the location and activity. When outdoors, we generally work in the last two hours before sunset. When indoors, we can work almost any time.

Some location and activity ideas include:
> A favorite park
> A beer brewery or winery
> An art museum
> The college campus where you met
> Riding a rented trolley, canoe or boat
> A fair or carnival with rides
> A destination or public garden
> A picnic in a park or by a river
> A barn
> A bowling alley
> An antique store
> Ice or roller skating
> A playground
> A baseball field

How to Use Your Engagement Photos

An engagement session is your chance to practice in front of a camera. The photos we capture are perfect for Save-the-Date announcements, Guest Books, Engagement Albums or Gift Prints. They are often cherished by couples simply because they showcase the two of you spending time together. You are often enjoying an activity without wedding day formality. Couples can really have fun with their engagement photography!

As an engagement photographer, I am available to give advice for engagement sessions. Contact me if you have any questions, or if you’d like to work together for your engagement session.

Also, read on for more information about working with me for your Engagement Photography.